Q: My daughter is 3 years old and she mispronounces some words. She also uses made-up words for everything. For how long is this normal?
A: This may persist for another year or two. When she mispronounces a word, instead of correcting her, pronounce the word correctly in your response. For example, if she says, "I love gaspetti," respond with "I love spaghetti too!" For made-up words, your daughter is showing her creativity! That's great! Talk with her about how she invented the word and discuss traditional words with the same meaning. For fun, keep a list of those invented words. She'll love it when she's an adult!
Q: Hello, my daughter is almost 9 years old and she still confuses letters. For example, she writes the "b" backward in some words and substitutes letters in other words. Like "chicken" instead of "kitchen." Or she'll write incomplete words, missing a letter. What should I do?
A: By this age, these sorts of problems have usually begun to disappear. In English, many words have silent letters, which can make spelling more challenging. You can have her run her finger under the words as she reads them. This makes it so that her eyes don’t jump to the middle of the word. You can also take a piece of paper and move it from left to right as she reads, revealing the letters one by one so that her eyes scan the words correctly. Luckily, there are many spell check apps available these days, but it is important to help her build a solid foundation without the extra tools.
Q: My daughter cries a lot when going to school. Sometimes, I want to withdraw her from school. She's 3 years old.
A: Talk with your teacher about how she behaves in school. If she is happy once she’s there, work on the transition from home to school. Sometimes taking a favorite stuffed animal or toy along helps. Also, choosing her school clothes the night before makes for a smoother morning routine. You can ask her to draw or paint a picture for you while there, giving her purpose. Additionally, consider reading your child books about separation anxiety, like Llama Llama Misses Mama, The Kissing Hand, Owl Babies, or The Invisible String. Finally, reassure her about the pickup time, so she’s confident you will be back at the end of the day.
Q: How can I use Lingokids with a 6-year-old?
A: Use the parental settings to indicate your child's age. The settings will move the child through the program based on correct responses. You can always check your child's progress and have them repeat activities. Remember that children of any age can enjoy the songs and stories.